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Donald <keyword id="19906203" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Trump" source="keywords">Trump</keyword> and <keyword id="19903807" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Elon-Musk" source="keywords">Elon Musk</keyword> have apparently become great friends over recent months. Musk poured millions of dollars into Trump's successful election campaign and has been a vocal and visible supporter of the president-elect. In return, he's been given a new job, in joint charge of the new <keyword id="23593857" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Department-of-Government-Efficiency" source="keywords">Department of Government Efficiency</keyword> (Doge), where he will be tasked with streamlining government operations and reducing bureaucracy. This "department"—actually an advisory group—will aim to cut unnecessary spending and make the general functioning of the US government more efficient. The idea is that within a federal budget of over US$6 trillion, there are opportunities to make some big savings. Musk's appointment—like many things he's involved with—has sparked controversy. The richest man in the world has already said he wants to cut spending by US$2 trillion (£1.6 trillion) and mentioned setting up a "leaderboard for most insanely dumb spending of your tax dollars.". Some are concerned about the impact he could have on public services. Others fear he will use his position to promote his own business interests. On the positive side, Musk has a very impressive CV when it comes to big organisations. He has created (or co-created) multi-billion-dollar businesses, including Paypal, <keyword id="19895433" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tesla" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Tesla" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Tesla">Tesla</keyword>, and <keyword id="19905255" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="SpaceX" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="SpaceX" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="SpaceX">SpaceX</keyword>. He has founded startups involved in AI (xAI), tunnelling (the Boring Company), and medicine (<keyword id="19985233" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Neuralink" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="Neuralink" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="Neuralink">Neuralink</keyword>). And research suggests that much of Musk's success comes down to a relentless focus on efficiency. He has also been praised for the depth of his analytical thinking and innovative problem solving. Tesla's factory in California went from being the least productive car manufacturing plant in the US when it was owned by General Motors to the most productive under Musk's ownership. SpaceX has vastly reduced costs in the space cargo business. So he has form. And Musk is not the first American business leader to offer private sector expertise to the world of politics. Back in the 1960s, Robert McNamara, former president of the Ford Motor Company, served as secretary of defence under presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. McNamara brought significant innovations to <keyword id="22668770" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="government-efficiency" source="keywords">government efficiency</keyword> that drew on his corporate experience. He championed cost-benefit analysis and a data-driven approach to decision-making and was keen on reducing bureaucracy and promoting accountability in complex governmental processes. To achieve this, McNamara recruited a team of experts from the worlds of academia and business. Known as the "Whizz Kids," they brought new perspectives to the White House. In the UK now, the Labour government's minister of state for investment is Poppy Gustafsson, a former venture capitalist and tech founder. Its minister for prisons is James Timpson, former CEO of the Timpson Group, a family firm renowned for hiring ex-offenders. These people—and there are many other examples around the world—were brought into the political sphere because of the knowledge and vision they have demonstrated in the private sector. The hope is their talent and leadership will improve policy and practice. <h2>Data-driven reform</h2>The same must be hoped for Musk: that with his co-leader, Vivek Ramaswamy—a biotech entrepreneur and former Republican leadership candidate—he will bring expertise in cost-cutting and innovative strategies. This will probably include comprehensive audits and data-driven approaches to reform. Critics refer to prior examples of Musk's approach, such as the mass layoffs and aggressive cost-cutting measures at Twitter (now X), with concerns that there could be similarly drastic reductions in the federal workforce and public services. But big job cuts were happening across the tech sector at that time. They came in the wake of reduced revenues and a need to reduce bloated workforces and ineffective functions—not unlike the challenges faced by the US government. Nevertheless, while proponents see Musk as an experienced leader capable of streamlining bureaucracy, sceptics fear the advent of harmful austerity measures that risk disruption to essential public programs. Concerns have also been raised about potential conflicts of interest, as Musk's business empire benefits from government contracts. However, since Doge will operate as an advisory body, concerns over him gaining advantage through any self-dealing seem overblown. Besides, two of Musk's companies (SpaceX and Tesla) have been awarded US$15.4 billion (£12.3bn) in federal contracts in the last decade. Perhaps then, success precedes influence rather than the reverse? Doge will also be governed by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, which maintains legal and ethical guardrails. And Congress will have the final say over any decisions. Fears of the worst possible outcome to Musk's appointment are a natural human response in the face of uncertainty. It is part of the reason that negative headlines get more clicks than positive ones. It is also true that Musk has aligned himself with a politician who divides opinion like few others. By leveraging his billions of dollars and 200 million followers on X to help Trump to victory, he made it clear which side he was on. And in a highly polarised US political landscape, the anguish about his governmental role may be little more than a knee-jerk reaction from the millions of people whose side he did not choose.

Love him or loathe him, Elon Musk is a champion of efficiency and could save the US government a fortune

<keyword id="163437" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="US-employers">US employers</keyword> added 379,000 <keyword id="11018" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Jobs">jobs</keyword> in February, with the <keyword id="6358907" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="unemployment">unemployment</keyword> rate little changed at 6.2 per cent, the <keyword id="57432" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Labour-department">Labour Department</keyword> reported. In February, most of the job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality, with smaller gains in temporary help services, health care and social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing, according to the monthly report released on Friday by the Department's Bureau of Labour Statistics. Employment fell in state and local government education, construction and mining, Xinhua news agency reported citing the report as saying. The unemployment rate, meanwhile, edged down by 0.1 <keyword id="1624988" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Percentage-Point">percentage point</keyword> to 6.2 per cent in February, but still well above the pre-pandemic level of 3.5 per cent in February 2020. Despite the improvement in the pandemic-ravaged labour market, some 10 million people remained unemployed in February, well above the pre-pandemic level of 5.7 million, the report showed. The number of permanent job losers, at 3.5 million, was essentially unchanged in February, but is 2.2 million higher than a year earlier, according to the report. The labour force participation rate remained at 61.4 per cent in February, according to the report, and this measure is 1.9 percentage points lower than a year earlier. Amid widespread Covid-19 shutdowns in March and April last year, 22 million Americans lost their jobs. Despite improvement in the pandemic-ravaged labour market, the recovery has been stalled in recent months amid surging Covid-19 cases. The weekly jobless claims report released on Thursday showed that the total number of people claiming benefits in all programs, state and federal combined, for the week ending February 13 decreased by 1 million, but remained elevated at 18 million. Lawmakers are debating a $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief package in the Senate, as Democrats highlighted the urgency to rein in the surging pandemic, and to bolster the ravaged economy. Republicans have however, called it a Democratic wish list, arguing that the plan includes provisions unrelated to the crisis, and the high price tag could result in unsustainable debt for future generations. Democrats hope to send the bill to President Joe Biden's desk before unemployment benefits expire in mid-March. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/apple-find-my-stalking-airtags-item-safety-alerts/articleshow/81342449.cms">Apple’s new Find My feature updated to prevent stalking as launch of the rumoured AirTags nears</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/regulating-digital-news-is-important-but-freedom-of-press-is-precious/articleshow/81341289.cms">OPINION: Regulating digital news is important but freedom of press is precious</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/stock-market/news/heranba-industries-ipo-makes-a-bumper-debut-on-stock-exchanges/articleshow/81342578.cms?upcaceh=2">Heranba Industries makes a bumper debut on stock exchanges — shares soar 44% over the issue price band</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/banks/news/ignore-low-cibil-score-for-street-vendor-loans-work-on-holidays-and-other-diktats-from-indian-government-to-banks-rushing-to-meet-march-target/articleshow/81223572.cms">EXCLUSIVE: Bankers may be working all 31 days of March with the government looking to double the loans doled out under the PM SVANidhi scheme</a>

US adds 379,000 jobs in February, say Labour Department report

<ul><li>The <keyword id="14332503" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="new-labor-codes" source="Orion">new labor codes</keyword> are expected to be implemented tomorrow, July 1.</li><li>New labor laws will bring a lot of changes in the working culture.</li><li>While the central government plans to implement these new laws by July 1, many states are still yet to ratify the laws.</li></ul>The new labor codes on wages, social security, industrial relations, and occupation safety, health, and working conditions are expected to be effective tomorrow, July 1. And there could be a lot of changes in the salary restructure, provident fund and gratuity, working hours, and leaves. While the central government plans to implement these new laws by July 1, many states are still yet to ratify the laws. Only 23 states and union territories (UTs) have released the draft guidelines under the Code on Wages, according to Rameshwar Teli, Minister of State for Labour and Employment. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Four days week with 12 hours shift" comment="subhead" text="Four days week with 12 hours shift"><keyword id="8533668" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Four-days-week" source="Orion">Four days week</keyword> with 12 hours shift</cmsannotation> The new laws will allow companies to have four days working instead of five or six. However, four days doesn’t mean fewer working hours. Employees will have to work for 12 hours a day instead of 8 hours to compensate for the third leave in a week. However, this also doesn’t mean a cut in paid holidays. Four-day work week would mean three paid holidays <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="New exiting polices" comment="subhead" text="New exiting polices">New exiting polices</cmsannotation> According to the new labor codes, companies will have to pay full and clear all pending wages and salaries within the two days of employees’ last working day as per their respective resignation date, dismissal, and removal from employment. Currently, companies pay out or complete their employees' dues in 45 to 60 days from the employee’s last working day. In some cases, companies take 90 days to clear the dues. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Work from home" comment="subhead" text="Work from home">Work from home</cmsannotation> Remote working became the new working culture during the covid-19 pandemic, and now employees want this trend to continue. The new labor laws are drafted to help the employees maintain their work-life balance. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Take-home salary, provident funds, and gratuity" comment="subhead" text="Take-home salary, provident funds, and gratuity">Take-home salary, provident funds, and gratuity</cmsannotation> The take-home salary for every month will change significantly because the basic salary will be at least 50% of the gross monthly salary, as per the new wage codes. This also means that there will be a substantial rise in gratuity and PF contribution of the employee. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Leaves" comment="subhead" text="Leaves">Leaves</cmsannotation> The most significant changes will reflect in the number of paid leaves. Usually, an employee in a government office gets 30 days a year. In addition, employees can cash upto 300 holidays on carrying forward; however, the new laws are demanding to increase this number to 450. Presently, there are 240 to 300 holidays in different departments. Employees can take these holidays in cash only after 20 years of service. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/in-india-it-could-be-a-funding-autumn-not-winter-with-active-funds-are-still-closing-big-deals/articleshow/92570964.cms">In India, it could be a funding autumn not winter with active funds are still closing big deals</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/a-cred-like-platform-is-what-indian-ott-users-want-to-juggle-multiple-subscriptions/articleshow/92570894.cms">A CRED-like platform is what Indian OTT users want to juggle multiple subscriptions</a>

Four-days work week, full and final settlement within 2 days of exit — new changes at workplaces to reflect from July 1

Edtech unicorn <keyword id="2900267" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="byju" source="Orion">BYJU</keyword>'s courted further controversy on Tuesday with its employees in Thiruvananthapuram claiming around 170 of them are being forced to resign from the company. The matter, raised on social media by <keyword id="7035516" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="technopark-today" source="Orion">Technopark Today</keyword>, an IT professionals community portal, was escalated by IT welfare organisation '<keyword id="3399247" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="prathidhwani" source="Orion">Prathidhwani</keyword>' to Kerala Labour Minister C. Sivankutty. Employees and Prathidhwani representatives also met the minister on Tuesday. Apart from ensuring that BYJU's does not force employees to resign, they demanded a revision of the company's exit policy for its employees. Along with ensuring payment of their October 2022 salary on November 1, employees are demanding a one-time settlement of three months' salary, earned leave encashment, and full-settlement of variable pay. According to the employees in Thiruvananthapuram numbering around 170, Byju's, with its office located in the <keyword id="6400701" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="technopark" source="Orion">Technopark</keyword>, is planning to wind up its operations in the state headquarters. Sivankutty, in a Facebook post, said: "The employees of BYJU's app from <keyword id="3595624" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="technopark-thiruvananthapuram" source="Orion">Technopark Thiruvananthapuram</keyword> had come to see me. The employees have many grievances, including job loss. The Labour Department will conduct a serious investigation in this regard." With losses of Rs 4,500 crore reported in FY21, BYJU's has been facing tough times in recent times. The company had recently announced cost-cutting measures including paring down manpower. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/netflix-is-emailing-users-details-about-how-to-make-it-easier-to-kick-free-loaders-off-your-account-as-it-cracks-down-on-password-sharing/articleshow/95086931.cms">Netflix is emailing users details about how to make it easier to kick free-loaders off your account, as it cracks down on password sharing</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/apps/news/whatsapp-down-users-across-the-world-are-reportedly-not-able-to-send-and-receive-messages/articleshow/95075347.cms">WhatsApp down – users across the world are reportedly not able to send and receive messages</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/the-fate-of-the-world-economy-may-depend-on-what-happens-to-a-company-most-americans-have-never-heard-of/articleshow/95030860.cms">The fate of the world economy may depend on what happens to a company most Americans have never heard of</a>

Fearing firing, BYJU's employees in Kerala approach state labour minister

<ul><li>The Trump administration has rolled out new H-1B visa rules less than a month before the US Presidential election. </li><li>This time the minimum wage requirements have been bumped up, and the eligibility criteria has been tightened along with some other changes. </li><li>Lawyers and experts believe that since the order didn’t follow the normal regulatory process, it’s likely to face a fierce challenge in court. </li></ul>The Trump administration has moved to make significant changes to Silicon Valley’s converted H-1B visa. The rules proposed by the US President will make it more expensive to hire employees from outside the country, tighten the eligibility criteria for visas, and plug up some of the other ‘loopholes.’ However, they may not stick around for very long. For Indian IT companies — like TCS, Infosys, HCL Technologies, and Wipro — this may <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/tcs-infosys-hcl-tech-dont-want-h1b-ban-but-are-pocketing-savings-while-it-lasts/articleshow/77120776.cms">not be a very big deal in the short run</a> since they have already been localising their workforce and trying to cut down on visa requirements. However, in the long run, this could bode darker tidings. On the other hand, tech giants within the US, like Google, Apple, Facebook and others, depend on the H-1B visa to hire tens of thousands of employees each year, not just from India, but also other countries where the cost of labour is cheaper. Critics believe that the changes are more political in nature, coming just ahead of the 2020 US Presidential election in November. Regardless of the motivation, lawyers and experts assert that the new rules are likely to be challenged in court since they bypassed the normal regulatory process. Department of <keyword id="123836" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Homeland-security">Homeland Security</keyword> acting deputy secretary Ken Cuccinelli estimates that a third of applicants would be denied under the new rules. What are the new changes to H-1B visa rules? The new rules significantly raise the existing wage levels of H-1B employees. There are four wage levels, and the minimum amount for each has been bumped up — in certain cases, to more than double than what it used to be. <table style="border-width: initial; border-style: none; width: 468pt; table-layout: fixed;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Wage level </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">Earlier wage percentile </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">New wage percentile </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">1 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">17 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">45 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">2 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">34 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">62 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">3 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">50 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">78 </td></tr><tr><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">4 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">67 </td><td style="border-left:solid #000000 1pt;border-right:solid #000000 1pt;border-bottom:solid #000000 1pt;border-top:solid #000000 1pt;vertical-align:top;padding:5pt 5pt 5pt 5pt;overflow:hidden;overflow-wrap:break-word;">95 </td></tr></tbody></table> The definition of ‘speciality occupation’ has also been narrowed down. Only certain types of degrees will now qualify a candidate for a visa. Select contract workers will also have a shorter time limit on their visas. More monitoring is also on the cards with the new rules enhancing the government’s ability to enforce compliance with worksite inspections, before and after an H-1B petition is approved. “With millions of Americans looking for work, and as the economy continues its recovery, immediate action is needed to guard against the risk lower-cost foreign labor can pose to the well-being of U.S. workers,” Patrick Pizzella, the deputy secretary of labor, told reporters on Tuesday. Trump has already been overruled once before The change to the H-1B visa ruels comes after a federal judge ruled that <keyword id="6354484" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Donald-Trump">Donald Trump</keyword> had overstepped his authority in June when he issued an order suspending H-1B visas, H-2B visas, L-1 visas, and J-1 visas till December 2020. This time the new rules augment the play book for two departments — Homeland Security and the <keyword id="57432" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Labour-department">Labour Department</keyword>. According to immigration law firm Berry Appleman &amp; Leiden, Homeland Security and the Labor Department are expected to publish the new rules in the federal register in “coming days.” However, the firm expects the matter to end up in court. SEE ALSO: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/malware-infiltrates-the-defenses-of-common-antivirus-softwares-like-mcafee-kaspersky-symantec-and-others/articleshow/78515377.cms">Malware infiltrates the defenses of common antivirus softwares like McAfee, Kaspersky, Symantec and others</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/andrea-ghez-is-the-fourth-woman-to-win-the-nobel-prize-for-physics/articleshow/78514164.cms">Andrea Ghez is the fourth woman to win the Nobel Prize for Physics — found the first signs of the supermassive black hole at the center of the Milky Way</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/tcs-expected-to-post-higher-revenue-and-margins-led-by-a-streak-of-deal-wins-over-the-last-three-months/articleshow/78511834.cms">TCS expected to post higher revenue and margins led by a streak of deal wins over the last three months</a>

New H-1B visa rules make it more expensive and harder to hire workers from India — but they may not hold ground

The <keyword id="6354862" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="trump">Trump</keyword> administration has announced a final rule that will significantly raise the minimum wages the employers in the US must pay to foreign workers on visa programmes like the H-1B as part of the efforts to protect American workers from being undercut by cheaper labour from abroad. Days before the exit of the administration of President <keyword id="6354484" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Donald-Trump">Donald Trump</keyword>, the US <keyword id="107972" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Department-of-Labor">Department of Labor</keyword> said that the final rule would help protect the wages and job opportunities of American workers by reforming the wage methodology it uses to set prevailing wage rates to prevent potential abuses of its Permanent Employment Certification, H-1B, H-1B1 and E-3 Visa foreign worker programmes. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China. The final rule will improve the accuracy of prevailing wages paid to foreign workers by bringing them in line with the wages paid to similarly employed US workers, the Department of Labor said in a news release on Tuesday. The final rule will ensure the Department more effectively protects the job opportunities and wages of American workers by removing the economic incentive to hire foreign workers on a permanent or temporary basis in the US over American workers, it said. Restricting immigration has been a focus of the Trump administration since its first days when it issued the travel ban on seven Muslim-majority countries, and it has continued into Trump's final year in office as the White House uses the coronavirus pandemic as cover. The Trump administration recently extended the freeze on H-1B visas along with other types of work visas and green cards until March 31. Last week it modified the selection process for H-1B visa, giving priority to salary and skills instead of the current lottery procedures. Democratic leader Joe Biden, who will be sworn in as the 46th US President on January 20, has promised to lift the suspension on H-1B visas, saying Trump's immigration policies are cruel. The Labor department's Employment and Training Administration administers the foreign labour programmes covered by the Department's wage methodology. On Oct 8, 2020, the Department published an interim final rule and invited public comment. After an extensive review of the comments received, the Department said it has determined that the existing wage methodology undermines the wages and job opportunities of US workers and that it is in tension with the governing statute. "The <keyword id="279351" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="US-Department">US Department</keyword> of Labor is taking these steps to strengthen wage protections, address abuses in visa programmes, and protect American workers from being undercut by cheaper foreign labour," said US Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia. "These changes help ensure that these important foreign worker programmes function as Congress intended while securing American workers' opportunities for stable, good-paying jobs. "In response to the comments we received, the Department has adjusted the wages levels used in the Interim Final Rule to better reflect market wages and included provisions to smooth the transition to the new wage levels," Scalia said, When seeking H-1B, H-1B1 or E-3 visas for workers, US employers must attest that they will pay nonimmigrant workers, during the period of authorised employment, the higher of the prevailing wage or the actual wage paid to other employees with similar experience and qualifications. The H-1B1 visa is a variant of the H-1B visa in the United States for nationals of Singapore and Chile. The E-3 visa is a US visa for which only citizens of Australia are eligible. Similarly, when an employer seeks to hire an immigrant under an EB-2 or EB-3 classification, the employer must recruit US workers for the position using a prevailing wage issued by the Department. They must also attest that they will pay foreign workers the prevailing wage. The prevailing wage rate is defined as the average wage paid to similarly employed workers in a specific occupation in the area of intended employment. The prevailing wage rates in these programmes serve to protect US workers from unfair competition posed by the entry of lower-cost foreign labour into the US. Using the Department's methodology in calculating the prevailing wage rates to reflect accurately the wages that US workers who perform the same kinds of jobs and possess similar qualifications, ensures that the use of these programmes will not adversely affect the wages and job opportunities of American workers. The mission of the Department of Labor is to foster, promote and develop the welfare of the wage earners, job seekers and retirees of the United States; improve working conditions; advance opportunities for profitable employment; and assure work-related benefits and rights. NSA AKJ NSA

Another blow for H1B visa workers – Trump govt raises minimum wage rates to do away with 'cheaper labour'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Labour's Emily Thornberry said ministers and officials must be reminded to preserve records.</li><li>It came as details of parties held despite lockdown rules threaten Boris Johnson's government.</li></ul>Ministers and officials need to be reminded by the Attorney General of legal requirements to retain records and not delete any evidence of the parties in lockdown that are shaking the Conservative government, Labour said.Emily Thornberry, Labour's shadow attorney general, urged Attorney General Suella Braverman to contact all central UK government departments with a reminder.Braverman should point out that "deleting images, messages or videos of or about these parties" is a "potentially serious breach of the law," Thornberry said.In her letter sent to Braverman Monday, which Insider has seen, Thornberry says "ministers and government officials must be urgently reminded of their legal obligations"."Deleting any such messages in the wake of December's media reports will not credibly be explained as anything other than a deliberate act."The letter follows a report in <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/partygate-phones-clean-up-investigation-sue-gray-b1991055.html">The Independent</a> that Downing Street staff were told to "clean up" their phones ahead of an inquiry originally to be led by Cabinet Secretary Simon Case, later taken over by Sue Gray.Downing Street denied that any such instruction was made.<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/downing-street-staff-clean-up-phones-may-be-crime-ico-2022-1?r=US&amp;IR=T">As Insider reported Thursday</a>, the Information Commissioner's Office, the UK's data watchdog, has warned that if Downing Street staff did delete messages about lockdown-breaking parties, they could have broken the law.Thornberry's letter came as another lockdown-busting drinks event, this time at the Home Office, was revealed by <a href="https://www.bigissue.com/news/politics/exclusive-home-office-staff-mingled-and-drank-prosecco-during-lockdown/">the Big Issue</a>.In March 2021, Home Office staff in the press and events team were "mingling" and having "prosecco at desks" to mark a policy announcement on asylum seekers leading the BBC's six o'clock news, the Big Issue reported.

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